Brush cleaning machine



Mai'y l2, 1931. w. s. ELLIOT BRUSH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug- 10, 1929 5 sheets-sheet V1 WN NNI 12 y im (2g/wwf @Pa/e May 12, 1931. w. s. sLmo-r 1,804,601

BRUSH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug lO, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imag/afar.'

3y M, MMM-119i@ faf/z @ya May l2, 1931. w. s. ELLIOT BRUSH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet vCo Innen 01'.' yy/eabw 5. zaai- Patented May 1a, leer yUm're stares WILLIAMS. ELLIOT, F NRTHKAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASS1GNOR,MESNE AS- SIGNMENTSQTO PRO-IPI-IYA-LAC-TIC BRUSH COMPANY,r OF WXLMINGTVON, DELAVJ'ARE, f

. .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE isnusrrv CLEANING MACHINE I Application filed August 10, 1929. Serial No. 384,852.

` This invention relates to 'machines for cleaning brushes such,'for example, as hair and clothes brushes.

The chieffob-ject of the invention is to provide .a machine o-f the character described capable (if.v cleaning brushes of various shapes and sizes.` l This is accomplished in part by providing a machine with which ak number of different brush holders can be used, each holder beingformed to accommodate brushes of-different shapes and sizes, the several hold-V ers being detachable and interchangeable so thatthe machine may be employedto `clean brushes of any speciedshape or style, de- 1&5 sired. To cause a thorough cleaning of the brushes, means is provided for maintaining the brushes to be cleaned in contact with the cleaning element during themovement of the holderthrough a predetermined space. Other'object-s ofthe invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine of myinvention. V Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the machine inV Fig. 1. f v Fig. 3 is-'an end elevation of the machine lozxing toward the left of Figs. 1 and 2, an. c l H Fig. 4 is a section taken substantiallyon the: line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the. in- 35 vention is 4not limitedin its application to the details of construction and arrangement of lparts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out inv various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended tolimit-theinvention beyond the terms of they several claims hereto appended as considered in view of the prior art and the requirements thereof. e n

The machine of my invention comprises a base and frame struct-ure shown as a whole at 10. Adjacent one end of the machine, preferably at the left side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an outboard hanger stand 11 which, together' with the bearings 12, supports they horizontal drive shaft 13. The outer end of tbe shaft is mounted in a bearing sleeve 14. .Mounted upontheshaft 13 between the outboard vhanger stand and the frame 10 ofthe machine is a pair of pulleys 15 and 16 of equal diameter. The kpulley 15 is an idler pulley loose on the shaft 13, whereas the pulley 16 is fixed to the shaft to ros tate therewith.: A third pulley 17 of smaller diameter is .also fixed to the shaft and positioned next to the pulley 16. rllhe base of the machine frame 10 supports, bymeans of a bearing 18, a second horizontal shaft 19, which .carries on its outer end a fixed or tight pulley. 20. A belt 21 connects the pulleys 17 and 2O and a drive belt 22 connected with a drive shaft (not shown) serves to transmit power,l from said drive shaft to the pul leys and`16. A belt shifter (not shown) of any desired construction may beemployed. Supported within the frame work of the machine and fixed to the yshaft 13 isa brush cleaning wheel ordrum 23, the periphery of which is provided with radially projecting metal' teeth or the like 24 similar to a card, said teeth'preferably comprising pins or nails set in a length of canvas belting 23a wrapped about and secured to said periphery.` The cleaning wheel or drum is positioned for rotation within a metal housing` which may be in the form of a container'25. rl`he container is sof. positioned that the endsl of the teeth'24 project above the upper endthereof.

and at right angles to the shaft 13 are vertical bearings and 27Awhich support a vertical shaft `28, having atits upper end a square Carried by the frame work of the machine c` shank 28a and a threaded end 28b to receive a Washer and nut 37. A thrust bearing 31 surrounds the shaft 28 adjacent its upper` end. The lower end of the shaft 28 is connected through a coupling 32 with a Worm gear 33 mounted in a housing 34 supported by the frame 10. The housing or casing has an extension 34a by Which it is attached to the frame l0 in any suitablemanner, such as by bolts 346. The shaft 19 is connected by means of a coupling 35 With a shaft 19a' journalled in the casing 34 and carrying upon its outer endV a Worm 36 meshing with the Worm gear 33. The Worm and Worm gear constitute a reducer, the reduction being approximately at the ratio of 48 to 1. It Will be seen, therefore, that the shaft 13 is driven much more rapidly than the shaft 28.

One of the travelling brush carriers or holders is shown as a Whole at 38. VIt com-y prises, preferably, a hub portion 38a having a square hole therethrough, the hub having a disk 38?) to which a notched disk or plate 380 is secured in any suitable manner. The plate 380 is provided around its periphery With notches or sockets 39 which are shaped to conform to the shape of a brush backor handle, and so formed as to receive and loosely support the brush back. Brush holders having disks 380 formed with pockets of any desired size and shape, dependent upon the style of brush to be supported, may be provided, said brush holders being detachable and interchangeable, and being held inplace upon the square shaft portion 28a by means of the nut and Washer 37.

Mounted upon the frame of the machine is a presser block comprising an arm 41 hinged at 42 to the frame of the machine and having a head 43. The head is provided with depending side flanges which receive and support journals on the ends of the rollers 44. It Will be noted (Fig. l) that the presser block overhangs the travelling brush holder or carrier 38 at a point immediately above the cleaning drum 23, so that the rollers 44 engage the backs of the brushes 40. By pro viding rollers, the movement of the holder and brushes over the cleaning drum is not retarded. By hinging the arm 4l, the presser head 43 is, in effect, resiliently supported above the brush backs and it Will be understood that the Weight of the head 43 is suiiicient to apply pressure to the back of the brushes to be cleaned so as to hold their bristles in contact with the Wire teeth 24 of the cleaning drum. By providing a construction such as described, it Will be seen that the brushes to be cleaned are loosely supported in their respective sockets in the travelling brush holder, so that they can be easily inserted and mechanically removed by means Y o'f the ejector plate 45 secured by screws 46 to the frame of the machine. As thev are removed by the plate 45, the brushes fall into the container or receptacle 47.

In operation, the brush holder is rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrovvon Fig. 1, and the Workman feeds the brushes to be cleaned to the sockets 39 at the point A. As the holder rotates, it moves the brushes into position over the teeth 24 of the cleaning drum, and the head 43 of the presser engages the top or back of the successive brushes and maintains their bristles in contact With said teeth during the movement of the brushes over said drum. After the cleaned brush is carried around to the point B, the ejector V'plate 45 engages the brush bristles and removes the brush from its socket 39, ydirecting the cleaned brush into the receptacle 47.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a machine capable of cleaning brushes of various sizes and shapes by a substantially continuous operation, the only manual labor required being that of feeding the brushes to the sockets in the brush carrier as it rotates. The brush carriers are detachable, as above described, and are interchan eable and may be quickly detached and applied to the shaft 28.

I claim:

- 1. In a brush cleaning machine, in combination, a rotating cleaning drum, a travelling brush holder'for moving the brushes to be cleaned across the periphery of said drum in a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of the latter, and common driving means for said drum and brush holder. v

2. In a brush cleaning machine, in combination, a rotatable cleaning drum, a detachable plate having brush receiving sockets therein rotatable in a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of said drum for moving brushes to be cleaned across the periphery thereof, and common driving means for said drum and plate.

3. In a brush cleaning machine, in combination, a rotatable cleaning drum, a brush carrier for moving brushes to be cleaned successively into and out of engagement with said cleaning drum, Vmeans for driving said drum and carrier, and means positioned adjacent the carrier for maintaining the successive brushes carried thereby in contact with said drum. 1

4. In a brush cleaning machine, in combination, a rotating cleaning drum, a travelling brushholder for moving the brushes to be cleaned across the periphery of said drum in a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of the latter,common driving means for said drum and brush holder, and a presser block positioned at one side of said drum and travelling brush holder for yieldingly engaging the backs of successive brushes to be cleaned to maintain the bristles thereof in contact Vwith said drum.

Cil

5. In a brush cleaning machine, in combination, a frame, a rotating cleaning drum, a travelling brush holder for moving the brushes to be cleaned across the periphery of said drum n a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of the latter, common driving means for said drum and brush holder, a presser block having an arm hinged to said frame positioned at one side of said travelling brush holder and drum, and rollers carried by said block adapted to engage the backs of successive brushes to maintain the bristles thereofl in Contact with said drum.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.V

WILLIAM S. ELLIOT.' 

